The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-09
CALL OR ADDRESS
AMATEUR PICTURE-MAKERS
Growing Popularity of Photography as
a Pastme in Indianapolis.
Advantages Of the Dry-Plate Process-Use of
the Detective Camera in Phot0graphing
PeOple-Amateurs Who Do Good Work

s.Is there much amateur photography done in
Indianapolis7 asked Journal reporter OF Mr..
Carl Lieber."
"Quits large amount of it," was his reply.
''In the last three years amateur photography
has come rapidly into favor a pastime with
features of usefulness, though it has been de-
velopiug ever since the dry-plate process came
into practical some five years ago. / think
there must be at least fifty persons in the city
who are doing more or less in that line. although
net making q business OF it number Of them
do very creditable work, and all of them seem to
enjoy it."
"Does the advantage Of the dry-plate process
60 amateurs consist in its simplicity as compared
with the wet-plate procsssl"
In it does. though perhaps the
greatest advantage 10 an indirect result Of that.
The great trouble amateurs found in the wet
plate process its Inconvenience IN field
work. It necessary to carry outfit
which required q wagon for transportation, be-
cause the plates had to be developed at once.
They lose their ssnsitiveness when they get dry.
The dry plates can be carried in holders and de-
veloped at any time after exposure. If desira-
BILE they can be kept in that state for year
longer. All that the amateur needs to carry
now is his tripod and camera-box, together with
his holders containing the sensitized plates.
The weight Of all the apparatus runs from three
pounds up. but tho average weight Of the outfit
In ordinary use, including plates and holders.
will run from ten to fifteen pounds"
..And what does an outfit costl'
THAT depends chiefly on the ideas of the pur-
chaser. We have outfits from $40 up to SIS. the
difference in price being due chiefly to the style
and finish Of the box and the quality of the lens
The latter is the most important feature, how
ever and is the chief item of expense in the finer
boxes The cheaper grades do very good work.
but an ambitious amateur usually wants to get
pretty well mp in quality to the lens, because
the better the lens Is the greater depth and
sharpness will be given to the negative. In the
figures mentioned, you must understand that 1
include only what call outfit technically
speaking, that is to cay, the box, tripod and
lens The plates and chemicals not included.
The prepared plates in 5xS size cost at retail
81. % per dozen. and fair supply of chemicals.
with trays for development. would cost about
b..
'Tsn't there great deal of work about pho
Biography, even in its simplest forms2'
why, no; though OF course the amount win
depend largely on the point of view. An unin-
rerested person would regard as work great
deal that tho photographer looks pleasure.
It 10 much the same with hunting or fish,
pg. 1t is undoubtedly true that some patience
- required in developing. and in making and
FINISHING prints, and for thai reason a good many
amateurs have their developing and printing
done by professional photographers. The moro
enthusiastic, however, prefer to have their work
entirely their own. and naturally they do not
find the work very tiresome Good photography
Is not much matter of labor as OF taste and
Judgment. Care in devslooing printing and
finishing adds largely the result. but the
primary essential 10 knowing what will make a
nod vie a
has enough OF the artist in him to do that his
work will be very commonplace
III thought there a process that did away
with nearly all the labor of developing and
pain ting"
80 there ID. The blue paper process Is much
dpanler. With it there is nothing to be doneSi